For All Kings is the eleventh studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released on February 26, 2016. It is the band's first studio album to feature Jon Donais on lead guitar, replacing Rob Caggiano. The album artwork was designed by Alex Ross.

In January 2013, guitarist Rob Caggiano left Anthrax and was replaced by Jon Donais of Shadows Fall. Talk of a follow-up to Worship Music surfaced later that year, with bassist Frank Bello stating that the band was "getting the itch to write new music".^[3] In September that year, guitarist Scott Ian confirmed that Bello and drummer Charlie Benante were "coming over to start writing for the next record" and subsequently posted images on Twitter of the band working on new material.^[4] By the end of October, the band had arranged seven new songs, with Ian describing the direction of the new music as "aggressive, fast, even riff-ier than the last record".^[5] By February 2014, the band had a total of 12 songs written, though were continuing to write so that they would have more material to choose from for inclusion on the final album.^[6]

Recording began in late 2014 with producer Jay Ruston in a studio in Los Angeles. Some 15–20 more songs were written during the sessions, what the band considered its most productive period.^[7] "Soror Irrumator", a song scheduled to appear on For All Kings, was featured on the second volume of the Catch the Throne mixtape.^[8] A lyric video for the song "Evil Twin" was released in October 2015, and several days later, the album title was announced.^[9] The album's release date and front cover were revealed the following month.^[10] The artwork, created by Alex Ross on a suggestion by Benante, displays massive statues of the band members.^[11] The track listing was revealed on December 4.^[12] Despite earlier suggestion by the band, "Soror Irrumator" did not appear on the album's track listing.^[8][12] The album was released on February 26, 2016.^[13]

Explaining the album title, which is also the title of the album's third track, Ian said: "The meaning, to me, for this title is that everybody can be a king. Everybody can have control over their own lives, control over their destiny, just by growing up and becoming a responsible human being. I'm not necessarily saying that being a "king" is being the boss in your relationship, or any relationship for that matter. A king of yourself is what I mean. Taking responsibility and ownership for your own shit is basically what it means to me."^[14] Ian, who writes the band's lyrics, said he tried to incorporate different structural ideas for the lyrics to those featured on previous albums, crediting author David Mitchell as an influence.^[15]

Ian has said that "Breathing Lightning" is lyrically influenced by author Stephen King: "If I had to pick one thing that I love the most from him, it would be The Dark Tower books [...] The character Roland, it's just something that stays with me a lot, this character from those books. So I kind of re-entered that world again. 'Cause I wrote "Lone Justice" way back when, on the Spreading The Disease record, which was based on that character, and I decided to re-visit it, because, metaphorically, there's so many things you could use it for[...]I'm kind of weaving in and out of reality and fantasy in that song. And 'Breathing Lightning', of course, is a metaphor for shooting."^[16]

According to Benante, "Evil Twin" was inspired by events like the 2015 attack on the offices and staff of the French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo and various other mass shootings. Ian added that it was about by the actions of people "who feel they have become judge, jury and executioner over their fellow man", calling this mindset the "evil twin" of humanity.^[17]

Ian has described "Blood Eagle Wings" as the "centerpiece" of the album, and admitted having difficulty with writing the lyrics. Lyrically, the track concerns "Any great city, whether it’s London, Rome, Paris, New York City, Los Angeles – these cities are alive because of how many people were killed to make them what they are. How much blood was spilled over time."^[18]

All songs written by Joey Belladonna, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante and Scott Ian^[34]

Note: The Megaforce iTunes/download version of the album combines "Impaled" / "You Gotta Believe" and "Breathing Lightning" / "Breathing Out" as single tracks, with running times of 7:32 and 6:33 respectively. Although "Impaled" and "Breathing Out" are not indicated on the track listing on the packaging, the CD is mastered with these tracks separately as well.

The Limited Edition Box Set of the album includes a cover of "Carry On Wayward Son", which is close to the original of progressive rock band Kansas from 1976.^[35] Also the artwork of the cover is a deviation of the original Leftoverture cover.

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.^[36]